US researchers have uncovered a reason why low vitamin C may speed up the development of leukaemia in mice. Unlike humans, mice can make vitamin C in their bodies, but the researchers genetically engineered mice so they couldn’t any longer — making them reliant on vitamin C from food. These mice had higher rates of […]

Sunday TVNZ‘s Ian Sinclair speaks to Dr. Andrew Miller and Prof. Margreet Vissers about Vitamin C and whether it could help in treating cancer. An extract (read more here and watch the video clip here): Otago University Professor Margreet Vissers has told the Sunday Programme Vitamin C is unlikely to provide a miracle cure. However it could be used […]

Physicist Sir Paul Callaghan’s high public profile has meant the country has taken a genuine interest in his terminal colon cancer diagnosis and subsequent unorthodox treatments. Sir Paul spoke to Radio New Zealand’s Kiwi Summer programme about his personal trial, his conclusions and concern at becoming a poster boy for the alternative therapy industry. The […]

The Science Media Centre sought comment from experts on the 60 Minutes piece Living Proof, which examined the story of Alan Smith, who was treated with intravenous doses of vitamin C while close to death suffering with the H1N1 virus and made a full recovery. Professor John Fraser, Head of School of Medical Sciences, University […]

Vitamin C, otherwise called ascorbate, has been found to have a link with cancerous tumour growth, according to University of Otago researchers. A protein present in tumours, which allows them to handle stress well, has been found in higher concentrations in those tumours in which ascorbate levels are low. It is hoped the finding could […]

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Journalists around the country are getting underway on important stories ranging from driverless cars to gene editing to sea level rise this week, thanks to grants issued in the first round of the Aotearoa-New Zealand Science Journalism Fund.
Twenty applications were received for the $20,000 of funding available, with most major New Zealand media... >> Read Full Post